Highlights
- Manchester City may now have the easiest path to glory as they aim for a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title.
- Arsenal face a tougher challenge, needing solid away performances against top-half teams in order to end their 20-year wait.
- Liverpool’s run of poor form, along with their tricky schedule, means it looks extremely difficult for Jurgen Klopp to have the perfect send-off.
We’re now firmly into the business end of the 2023-24 season and the battle to be crowned Premier League champions is close to reaching its conclusion. It’s been many years since we’ve had the privilege of witnessing a genuine three-horse race at the top. However, this season’s run-in has been one of the most enthralling for that reason.
Defending champions Manchester City, 2020 winners Liverpool, and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are all separated by three four points. With very few remaining fixtures still to go, it’s almost impossible to predict who will be lifting the famous trophy come the final day.
The trio will be hoping to maximise their points tallies from now until May, although they will be facing some stiff opposition across their league fixtures that remain. But who has the toughest challenge ahead of them? We’ve taken a close look at each side’s remaining fixtures and ranked them from easiest to hardest.
Could this be an indication as to who will walk away as this campaign’s Premier League champions? Quite possibly. The three teams are ranked below based on who has the easier schedule on paper, although everyone knows this isn’t how the game is played.
|
Premier League’s Current Top 3 (As of 26/04/2024) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Team |
GP |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
GD |
Points |
|
1. |
Arsenal |
34 |
24 |
5 |
5 |
+56 |
77 |
|
2. |
Manchester City |
33 |
23 |
7 |
3 |
+48 |
76 |
|
3. |
Liverpool |
34 |
22 |
8 |
4 |
+41 |
74 |
1 Manchester City
Games left: 5 | Games against top-half teams: 2
Manchester City will make history should their quest to defend the Premier League crown prove successful. The European champions are searching for their fourth consecutive Premier League title – something that has never been achieved before. Local rivals Manchester United have come the closest, having won three in a row on two separate occasions.
The dominance of the well-oiled machine that Pep Guardiola has created on the blue side of Manchester is difficult to compete with. Therefore, it makes his side incredibly difficult to bet against. The champions will back themselves against anyone in the division and the remaining games appear to be slightly in their favour compared to their title rivals.
City have to face only two sides currently sitting in the top half. One of those matches is away from the Etihad Stadium. This will see them travel to Tottenham Hotspur on 14 May. Due to their recent success in the competition, most City supporters will be confident in their team, regardless of the fixture list.
What Happens if Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool Finish on Same Points
The Premier League has rules and regulations in place to determine the champions if teams are level on points after the final games of the season.
A trip to Brighton looked potentially tricky on paper but City passed the test with flying colours, securing a 4-0 victory. They’ll be looking for a repeat performance against troubled Nottingham Forest this weekend. Sealing another three points could make all the difference in the Citizens’ quest for their 10th domestic league title as they look to reclaim their status as table toppers.
City have also played one match fewer than Arsenal and Liverpool, meaning Guardiola’s side remain the favourites due to their easier run of games and ability to move back to the top by winning their game in hand.
|
Manchester City’s Remaining 2023-24 Premier League Fixtures |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Date |
Opponent |
Position in table |
Home or away |
|
28/04/24 |
Nottingham Forest |
17th |
A |
|
04/05/24 |
Wolves |
12th |
H |
|
11/05/24 |
Fulham |
13th |
A |
|
14/05/24 |
Tottenham |
5th |
A |
|
19/05/24 |
West Ham United |
8th |
H |
2 Arsenal
Games left: 4 | Games against top-half teams: 3
This time last year, Arsenal appeared to be in pole position to end their long Premier League title drought. Everyone knows what followed, as Manchester City flexed their muscles and eventually stormed to glory. Now, 20 years on from their last success, the Gunners may need to draw inspiration from the ‘Invincibles’ if they want their name to be carved on the famous piece of silverware.
Though they are currently riding the wave of impressive performances that had seen the north London club go unbeaten in 2024 in the league until their recent 2-0 loss to Aston Villa – there are difficult games to come. They have a trio of fixtures against teams in the top half of the table, two of which are away from home. This includes a trip to Old Trafford, which is where Mikel Arteta’s men suffered their first Premier League defeat of the 2022-23 season.
Final 2023/24 Premier League Table Predicted by Data Experts
A supercomputer has simulated the remainder of the 2023/24 Premier League season 10,000 times.
If they wish to defy the odds and be crowned champions, Arsenal will need to avoid repeats of that result at all costs. Should they do that, then those walking into the Emirates Stadium on the final day of the season against Everton may witness something that has never been seen in that arena: the lifting of the Premier League trophy.
|
Arsenal’s remaining 2023-24 Premier League Fixtures |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Date |
Opponent |
Current position |
Home or away |
|
28/04/24 |
Tottenham |
5th |
A |
|
04/05/24 |
Bournemouth |
10th |
H |
|
12/05/24 |
Manchester United |
6th |
A |
|
19/05/24 |
Everton |
16th |
H |
3 Liverpool
Games left: 4 | Games against top-half teams: 3
Those hoping for a fairytale ending to Jurgen Klopp’s reign at Liverpool look to be out of luck, especially given they dropped points against Crystal Palace and Everton. The German announced in January that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season and many believed it may have spurred his players on, although they are now third-favourites to lift the trophy.
As things stand, the Merseyside outfit remain in the mix to complete a double after lifting the Carabao Cup. The final chance for their iconic manager to lift silverware before making his departure is the Premier League after the Reds were eliminated from the Europa League. In winning the league, they would equal Manchester United’s record of 20 top-flight domestic titles.
How Many Liverpool Games Jurgen Klopp has Left
The iconic manager could lead his side to a treble by the end of the season.
When looking at Liverpool’s remaining fixtures, it’s hard to argue they are easier (on paper) than City’s or Arsenal’s – and to make matters worse, they are currently three points adrift of the Gunners. With four games left, the club have to play three in the current top half of the table and two of those fixtures will take place away from home.
The most difficult fixtures remaining on Liverpool’s schedule include trips to both West Ham United and Aston Villa, with the final game of the season seeing them matched up against Gary O’Neil’s Wolves. There are no easy games in the Premier League, and Klopp will even have to face Tottenham at Anfield.
|
Liverpool’s Remaining 2023-24 Premier League Fixtures |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Date |
Opponent |
Current position |
Home or away |
|
27/04/24 |
West Ham United |
8th |
A |
|
05/05/24 |
Tottenham |
5th |
H |
|
13/05/24 |
Aston Villa |
4th |
A |
|
19/05/24 |
Wolves |
12th |
H |
All information in this article is courtesy of the Premier League – correct as of 25604/2024
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